Telescopic batting training apparatus

ABSTRACT

A telescopic batting training apparatus includes an upright support, and a central base unit. The upright support includes a lower support post, an upper support post telescopically connected to the lower support post, a locking unit for restricting telescopic movement of the upper support post relative to the lower support post, and a ball receptacle mounted on top of the upper support post. The base unit includes a tubular member sleeved around the lower support post, and a plurality of radial legs having inner ends pivotally connected to the tubular member and outer ends opposite to the inner ends. The radial legs are turnable between a stretching position, in which the outer ends move away from the lower support post, and a folding position, in which the outer ends move toward the lower support post.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a batting training apparatus, more particularlyto a telescopic batting training apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional batting training apparatus 10 isshown to comprise a base 11, an upright post 12, and a ball-supportingrod 13. The base 11 is supported on the ground through two elongatedplastic leg members 111 that intersect each other to form a cross shape.The upright post 12 has a bottom end connected to the base 11, and a topend connected to the ball-supporting rod 13. The ball-supporting rod 13is made of a foam material, and has a ball receptacle 131 formed on atop end thereof for supporting a ball 100 so that the ball 100 is at apredetermined height relative to the ground. Through such anarrangement, a player can start his batting training by swinging a batagainst the ball 100.

Although the conventional batting training apparatus can achieve itsintended purpose, it has the following disadvantages:

1. The base 11 is supported on the ground through the ends of theplastic leg members 111 so that the contact area of the base 11 with theground is limited. This results in the base 11 providing a relativelyweak and unstable support so that when the player strikes the ball 100with the bat, the conventional batting training apparatus 10 easilytopples over. Therefore, the conventional batting training apparatus 10has to be erected after each strike, thereby rendering the conventionalbatting training apparatus 10 inconvenient to use.

2. Since the upright post 12 is not telescopic, the conventional battingtraining apparatus 10 has a fixed striking point so that the playercannot practice batting the ball at different height levels, therebyaffecting the training efficiency.

3. Since the height of the upright post 12 of the conventional battingtraining apparatus 10 is fixed, that is, since the upright post 12 isnot telescopic, the conventional batting training apparatus 10 is notsuitable for players of different ages and heights.

4. The conventional batting training apparatus 10 occupies a substantialspace during storage. However, if the conventional batting trainingapparatus 10 is disassembled so as to facilitate storage and is thenassembled so as to facilitate use of the apparatus, considerable timeand labor are wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a battingtraining apparatus that is telescopic, that is convenient to use, andthat can be stably mounted on the ground.

According to the present invention, a telescopic batting trainingapparatus comprises an upright support, and a central base unit. Theupright support includes a lower support post, an upper support posttelescopically connected to the lower support post, a locking unit forrestricting telescopic movement of the upper support post relative tothe lower support post, and a ball receptacle mounted on top of theupper support post. The central base unit includes a tubular membersleeved around the lower support post, and a plurality of radial legshaving inner ends pivotally connected to the tubular member and outerends opposite to the inner ends. The radial legs are turnable between astretching position and a folding position. In the stretching position,the outer ends of the legs move away from the lower support post. In thefolding position, the outer ends of the legs move toward the lowersupport post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional batting trainingapparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of atelescopic batting training apparatus according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating how an uppersupport post can be adjusted through a first locking unit;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partly sectional view of the first preferredembodiment, illustrating how an upright support and a central base unitcan be respectively retracted and folded;

FIG. 6 illustrates how a bat may be connected to the upright supportafter the latter is retracted; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of atelescopic batting training apparatus according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it shouldbe noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numeralsthroughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of a battingtraining apparatus according to the present invention is shown tocomprise a central base unit 20, an upright support 30, a ball 100, anda bat 200.

The central base unit 20 includes a tubular member 21, and four radiallegs 22 connected pivotally to the tubular member 21. The tubular member21 defines a central hole 211, and includes an upper section 213, alower section 214 connected to the upper section 213, and four pivotseats 212 projecting outwardly from the lower section 214. Each of thepivot seats 212 has an inverted U-shaped cross section for receiving arespective one of the legs 22. Each of the legs 22 has an inner endinserted into and pivoted to a respective one of the pivot seats 212,and an outer end 222 opposite to the inner end.

The upright support 30 includes a hollow lower support post 31, an uppersupport post 33, a first locking unit 50, a ball-supporting rod 34, anda clip 35.

The lower support post 31 is inserted into the tubular member 21 via thecentral hole 211.

The upper support post 33 has a diameter smaller than that of the lowersupport post 31, and has a bottom end portion inserted adjustably andmovably into the lower support post 31. The lower support post 31defines a clearance 312 around the upper support post 33, as shown inFIG. 5.

The first locking unit 50 is provided for restricting the telescopicmovement of the upper support post 33 relative to the lower support post31. The first locking unit 50, as best shown in FIG. 5, includes arotary annular member 51 sleeved threadedly around the lower supportpost 31 and having a flanged end 511, and a wedge-shaped packing member52 connected to the rotary annular member 51 and inserted into theclearance 312. When the rotary annular member 51 is rotated to atightening position, the flanged end 511 of the rotary annular member 51pulls the packing member 52 toward the clearance 312 so that the uppersupport post 33 is locked against movement relative to the lower supportpost 31. When the rotary annular member 51 is rotated to a looseningposition, the flanged end 511 of the rotary annular member 51 moves thepacking member 52 away from the clearance 312, thereby allowing movementof the upper support post 33 relative to the lower support post 31.

The ball-supporting rod 34 is connected to a top end of the uppersupport post 33, and is made of a foam material. The ball-supporting rod34 includes a ball receptacle 341 formed on a top face thereof forholding the ball 100.

The clip 35 has two opposite ends formed with a first C-shaped clipportion 351 and a second C-shaped clip portion 352. The first C-shapedclip portion 351 is secured on the upper support post 33. The secondC-shaped clip portion 352 extends outwardly from the upper support post33 for holding the bat 200, which may, for example, be a baseball bat.

The radial legs 22 of the central base unit 20 are turnable between astretching position and a folding position. In the stretching position,as shown in FIG. 2, the outer ends 222 of the radial legs 22 move awayfrom the lower support post 31. In the folding position, as shown inFIG. 5, the outer ends 222 of the radial legs 22 move toward the lowersupport post 31.

The tubular member 21 is sleeved slidably around the lower support post31 to move downwardly so as to place the legs 22 in the stretchingposition and to move upwardly so as to place the legs 22 in the foldingposition.

A second locking unit 50′ is provided on the central base unit 20, andhas a structure similar to that of the first locking unit 50.Particularly, the second locking unit 50′ includes a rotary annularmember 51′, and a wedge-shaped packing member 52′. When the rotaryannular member 51′ is rotated to a tightening position, the lowersupport post 31 is locked against movement relative to the tubularmember 21. When the rotary annular member 51′ is rotated to a looseningposition, the tubular member 21 is free to move along the lower supportpost 31.

Referring to FIG. 4, when a player desires to adjust the height of theball 100 on the ball-supporting rod 34, the first locking unit 50 issimply loosened so that the upper support post 33 can move freelyrelative to the lower support post 31. The position of theball-supporting rod 34 is also changed following the movement of theupper support post 33. When the desired height of the upper support post33 is obtained, the first locking unit 50 is tightened, thereby lockingthe upper support post 33 and preventing movement of the same relativeto the lower support post 31.

Referring to FIG. 5, when it is desired to prepare the batting trainingapparatus of the present invention for transport and/or storage, thefirst and second locking units 50, 50′ are loosened so that the uppersupport post 33 can move into the lower support post 31, and so that thetubular member 21 can move upwardly along the lower support post 31 soas to fold the legs 22.

Referring to FIG. 6, in this state where the central base unit 20 andthe upright support 30 are respectively folded and retracted, a handgripportion 201 of the bat 200 may be secured to the second C-shaped clipportion 352 of the clip 35.

From the aforesaid description, it is apparent that with the provisionof the four radial legs 22 which can be folded and stretched, use of thebatting training apparatus of the present invention is facilitated. Whenthe legs 22 are stretched, the legs 22 abut against the ground so thatthe contact area of the central base unit 20 relative to the ground isincreased, thereby achieving a stable support. Furthermore, the uprightsupport 30 has telescopic upper and lower support posts 33, 31 which canbe adjusted through the first locking unit 50. This allows for quickadjustment of the height of the ball-supporting rod 34, that is, theheight of the ball 100 on the ball-supporting rod 34 can be quicklyadjusted according to the height of the player. Since the upper andlower support posts 33, 31 are telescopic, the batting trainingapparatus of the present invention can have a reduced volume afterretraction so that it does not occupy a substantial space during storageand is easy to carry.

Referring to FIG. 7, the second preferred embodiment of a battingtraining apparatus according to the present invention is shown to besimilar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment,the batting training apparatus of the present invention further includesfour stabilizing friction members 223. Each of the stabilizing frictionmembers 223 is made of a foam material, and is sleeved on acorresponding one of the radial legs 22 (see FIG. 2). The stabilizingfriction members 223 can increase contact and friction with the groundso that the central base unit 20 can be more stably supported on theground. A cushion tube 313 is disposed around the lower support post 31(see FIG. 2) of the upright support 30. The cushion tube 313 is made ofa foam material, and can dampen an external impact force. The cushiontube 313 also serves to protect the upright support 30 so that theservice life and the appearance of the upright support 30 are enhanced.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

1. A telescopic batting training apparatus, comprising: an uprightsupport including a lower support post, an upper support posttelescopically connected to said lower support post, a first lockingunit for restricting telescopic movement of said upper support postrelative to said lower support post, and a ball receptacle mounted ontop of said upper support post; and a central base unit including atubular member sleeved around said lower support post, and a pluralityof radial legs having inner ends pivotally connected to said tubularmember and outer ends opposite to said inner ends, said radial legsbeing turnable between a stretching position in which said outer endsmove away from said lower support post, and a folding position in whichsaid outer ends move toward said lower support post.
 2. The telescopicbatting training apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tubularmember is sleeved slidably around said lower support post to movedownwardly so as to place said legs in said stretching position and tomove upwardly so as to place said legs in said folding position.
 3. Thetelescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 2, wherein saidcentral base unit further includes a second locking unit sleeved on saidtubular member to lock said tubular member against movement relative tosaid lower support post.
 4. The telescopic batting training apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said upright support further includes aclip for holding a bat.
 5. The telescopic batting training apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said lower support post includes a cushiontube disposed around said lower support post.
 6. The telescopic battingtraining apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pluralityof stabilizing friction members, each sleeved around one of said radiallegs.
 7. The telescopic batting training apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said tubular member includes a plurality of pivot seatsprojecting outwardly from said tubular member, each of said pivot seatshaving an inverted U-shaped cross section for receiving a correspondingone of said radial legs, each of said inner ends being inserted into andbeing pivoted to a corresponding one of said pivot seats.